Return coupled wireless power transmission

• US 10,516,303 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2018
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Wave LLC
• Original Assignee: Cpg Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Corum, James F., Corum, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zweizig, Jeffery S
• Application Number:
  US16/207,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20190115790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides

Abstract

Aspects of return coupled wireless power transmission systems are described. A system can include a conductor. The conductor can extend from a guided surface waveguide probe. The conductor can be coupled to a ground of the guided surface waveguide probe. A guided surface wave receiver can be positioned proximate to the conductor.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a conductor that extends from a ground of a guided surface waveguide probe across a lossy conducting medium;

a network of additional conductors including a set of spaced apart lateral conductors and a set of spaced apart transverse conductors; and

a guided surface wave receiver proximate to at least one of the conductor or the network of additional conductors.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second conductor coupled to the conductor; and

a second guided surface wave receiver coupled to the second conductor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises a first segment coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe at a first end and coupled to a second segment and a third segment at a second end, the second segment being coupled to the guided surface wave receiver and the third segment being coupled to a second guided surface wave receiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the guided surface wave receiver is configured to receive a guided surface wave launched by the guided surface waveguide probe.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the network of additional conductors is positioned beyond a Hankel crossover distance away from the guided surface waveguide probe.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a guided surface wave receiver positioned proximate to a conductor that extends from a ground of a guided surface waveguide probe across a lossy conducting medium, wherein;

a guided surface wave is launched by the guided surface waveguide probe via at least one resultant field that synthesizes a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle of incidence of the lossy conducting medium.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an electric load.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an impedance matching network configured to adjust an impedance presented by the guided surface wave receiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the guided surface wave receiver is configured to receive the guided surface wave launched by the guided surface waveguide probe.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a second conductor is coupled to the conductor and a second guided surface wave receiver is proximate to the second conductor.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the conductor comprises a first segment coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe at a first end and coupled to a second segment and a third segment at a second end, the second segment being coupled to the guided surface wave receiver and the third segment being coupled to a second guided surface wave receiver.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the conductor comprises a network of additional conductors including a set of spaced apart lateral conductors and a set of spaced apart transverse conductors.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the conductor comprises a first conductor that extends a distance radially away from the guided surface waveguide probe and a set of circumferential conductor rings.

14. A method comprising:

positioning a conductor across a lossy conducting medium extending from a guided surface waveguide probe;

positioning a guided surface wave receiver proximate to the conductor; and

providing, via the conductor, a current return path from the guided surface wave receiver to the guided surface waveguide probe.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving, via a guided surface wave receiver, a guided surface wave.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising placing a saline substance along the lossy conducting medium between the guided surface wave receiver and the guided surface waveguide probe.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

coupling a second conductor to the conductor; and

positioning a second guided surface wave receiver proximate to the second conductor.

18. The method claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the conductor is at least partially within the lossy conducting medium.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising positioning a network of additional conductors outside of a Hankel crossover distance from the guided surface waveguide probe.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising positioning a set of circumferential conductor rings in the lossy conducting medium.